Former Abia State Governor and Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on the killings in Nigeria, insisting that the violence has affected both Christians and Muslims and must be confronted decisively.
Speaking to members of the Senate Press Corps at the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Abia North Senator also declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would face no serious opposition in the 2027 presidential election, describing the race as “Tinubu versus Tinubu.”
“Has he gotten anyone contesting against him? The election is Tinubu vs Tinubu just like Soludo vs Soludo. The President has no options,” Kalu said. “Our party is fully on ground and fully with the people. Nobody can say we don’t have the people on ground. We will continue to do what we can to help the Nigerian masses progress.”
Kalu, a former Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, said the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio is firmly supporting President Tinubu’s economic recovery plans through people-focused legislation.
“Whatever is the problem, the Senate is more interested in making laws that will help President Ahmed Tinubu overcome the economic problems that our people are going through. We are focusing on redeeming Nigerian people to see that they eat three times a day,” he said.
“Trump Told the Truth,” Kalu Insists
Reacting to comments credited to former U.S. President Donald Trump on the spate of killings in Nigeria and Washington’s readiness to act, Kalu said Trump “told the truth,” emphasizing that the violence has claimed lives across religious divides.
“If it’s a lie, then the answer is that it’s not a lie because he said the truth. Nigerians are being killed whether they are Christians or Muslims,” he said. “There are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria. We should blacklist them without pity so that they will be smoked out.”
Kalu revealed that he had personally discussed Nigeria’s security situation with two former U.S. Presidents—one Republican and one Democrat—and six serving U.S. Senators, who, according to him, expressed readiness to help Nigeria combat terrorism.
“Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where these terrorists are located,” Kalu explained. “You can see that the Nigerian Air Force is already acting, possibly using information shared by the U.S. to bomb terrorist hideouts. That’s how it should be.”
While affirming his pro-America stance, Kalu noted that global instability today partly stemmed from the U.S.-led invasions of Libya and Iraq, which dismantled regional order and triggered arms proliferation across Africa.
“When you killed Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem because those people were maintaining their borders. After their deaths, light and heavy arms spilled all over the world and we are suffering from it today,” he said.
Kalu further clarified that the United States was not targeting the Tinubu administration but was instead acting against jihadist groups destabilizing Nigeria.
“Nigerians are clapping hands and political opponents are thinking that the U.S. is after Tinubu’s government. No! They are going after the jihadists,” he stressed.
On Party Politics and Defections
Commenting on speculation that Abia State Governor Alex Otti may defect from the Labour Party to the APC, Kalu dismissed claims of pressure from the ruling party.
“Let’s be honest, neither me nor other senators, Senate President or President Tinubu have ever forced anybody to join our party. I have met with my Governor; he is my brother and used to be my banker. Whether he joins or not is up to him,” he said.
“But as for me, I will work 100% for the APC, campaign in the state and ensure that we secure victory for President Tinubu and every candidate of the APC.”
On Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, Kalu expressed confidence that the APGA leader would eventually align with the ruling party.
“Soludo is a progressive like myself, President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and the Governors of Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu. He has no alternative than to come and join us—it’s confirmed,” Kalu declared.
On the Economy: “Macro Doing Well, Micro Still Struggling”
Assessing Nigeria’s economy, Kalu admitted that while macroeconomic indices are improving, citizens are still grappling with daily hardship.
“As a businessman, I am feeling the pain too. The macro economy is doing well, but the micro economy is not. Foreign investors are coming in, and what is left is for this progress to trickle down to the masses so that people can eat daily and return to farming,” he said.
He assured that both the President and the Senate are working tirelessly to revive the economy and restore food security.
“President Tinubu has put his life into revamping the economy, and the Senate is also doing its best to ensure that Nigerians feel the progress,” Kalu added.
On Senate Stability
Addressing reports of attempts to impeach the Senate President, Kalu dismissed the rumours as mere “family misunderstanding.”
“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” he assured.
Senator Kalu’s remarks reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu and the APC, his strong support for U.S. cooperation in counterterrorism, and his belief that Nigeria’s economic and security challenges can be overcome through unity, reform, and international collaboration.
